Earth Day

Here at KLRU, we love our planet and proudly celebrate Earth Day. With it coming up on April 22nd, what better way to pay tribute to our big blue planet than to air programs that embrace nature and shed light on problems the Earth currently faces?

On April 21,Arts In Context Thirst explores an art installation that takes on the pressing issue of water shortages and challenges the community to action at 7:30 p.m. Presented by the Center For Women & Their Work, Thirst memorializes the loss of over 300 million trees that died in the Texas in the drought of 2011.

On April 28, National Parks: America’s Best Idea Going Home (1920-1933) tells the story of a Nebraska housewife who searches for peace and inspiration in park after park, while a honeymoon couple seeks fame and adventure in the Grand Canyon; and the future of the Great Smoky Mountains becomes caught in a race with the lumbermen’s saws.

National Parks: America’s Best Idea Great Nature (1933-1945) explains that in the midst of an economic catastrophe and then a world war, the national parks provide a source of much-needed jobs and then much-needed peace on April 29; the park idea changes to include new places and new ways of thinking; and in Wyoming, battle lines are drawn along the front of the Teton Range.

A stubborn iconoclast fights a lonely battle on behalf of a species nearly everyone hates on National Parks: America’s Best Idea The Morning Of Creation (1946-1980) on April 30. America’s “Last Frontier” becomes a testing ground for the future of the park idea; and in unprecedented numbers, American families create unforgettable memories, passing on a love of the parks to the next generation.

KLRU Q also crafted some of their April programming in honor of our planet.

On April 15, Q starts the night off with Big Burn: American Experienceat 8 p.m. This one-hour special highlights the hundreds of wildfires that raged across the Northern Rockies during the summer of 1910. Then at 9 p.m., America’s First Forest: Carl Schenck And The Ashtev examines the pivotal role played by pioneering forestry educator Carl Schenck and his founding of America’s first school of forestry-the Biltmore Forest School. To finish the night off, Jens Jensen The Living Green profiles the unsung pioneering landscape architect who became one of America’s most influential urban designers and early conservationists at 10 p.m.

Then on Earth Day itself, April 22, experience the battle for a living planet in the first big-picture exploration of the environmental movement, spanning 50 years of grassroots and global activism on American Masters A Fierce Green Fire at 8 p.m. After that, Green Fire: Aldo Leopold And A Land Ethic For Our Time highlights Aldo Leopold’s extraordinary career as an environmentalist, tracing how he shaped and influenced the modern environmental movement. Finally, Symphony of the Soil artistically explores the miraculous substance soil at 10 p.m.

Love your Mother — Mother Earth, that is — during the month of April with KLRU’s Earth Day programming. KLRU and KLRU-Q will be celebrating Earth Day, April 22, with specials that shine a light on the remarkable Pale Blue Dot we call home. Learn about our planet’s vast biodiversity, the problems our environment faces, and innovative solutions for a healthier Earth with programs for the whole family.

Located 110 miles off the Louisiana-Texas coast, the corals of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary rank among the healthiest in the world, even though they lie in the middle of one of the most active oil and gas production areas on earth. Narrated by Penny Hammer, a Gulf Coast resident, Window In The Waves tells the intriguing story of the reefs’ formation, their essential function as a haven for marine animals, their designation as a national sanctuary in 1992 and their critical importance to the global environment. Formed millions of years ago and protected by remoteness, the three reefs collectively cover 56 square nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico- and teem with biodiversity. Stunning underwater footage gathered over the course of hundreds of dives reveals the diverse inhabitants, including hundreds of species of fish and invertebrates.

And for the kids:Dinosaur Train and Wild Kratts join forces for an Explore the Outdoors Week, April 20-24.The Brothers Kratt and the Pteranodon family celebrate Earth Day with an eco-themed week including the premieres of new episodes.

Tiny can’t believe it when he finds out that his friend Cindy Cimolestes doesn’t like fish, but she explains that she’s a mammal and many mammals don’t eat fish. Determined, Tiny sets out to find a mammal in the Mesozoic who likes fish. She, Buddy, Cindy and Dad set out on a fishing trip, where they run into Cassie Castrocauda, a Jurassic mammal that looks like a cross between a beaver, an otter and a platypus, who also happens to love fish!

Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don are excited that Keira Chirostenotes gets to babysit them for the night while Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon go out for a dinner on the Dinosaur Night Train. Keira shows the kids how a dead log’s decomposition provides food and shelter for many living creatures. Then, Grandma and Grandpa are excited to have a whole day with their grandkids and doubly-excited to do a special project with them. Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don get to plant their own sycamore saplings and vow to visit their trees frequently to track their growth over the years.

Aviva is working on a special ring chip that will super power her “inventuring”, but it’s stolen by a mysterious lemur. Martin and Chris are off to the rescue and along the way, they learn about the amazing world of chameleons.

Wild Kratts Lemur Stink Fight — April 21 at 4 pm
While in Madagascar, the Wild Kratts hear signs of a dispute between two troops of ringtailed lemurs. So they set out to figure out just what these two lemur groups are arguing about…

Wild Kratts Capture The Fishmobile — April 22 at 4 pm
When Aviva unveils her new Fishmobile invention, designed to keep up with the rapid, precise movements of schooling fish, Chris and Martin challenge the gang to a brand new creature game.

Zero Energy America Part 1: April 7 at 9 pm Part 2: April 14 at 9 pm
Zero Energy America is two one-hour documentaries that explore the quest for the zero-energy home. This look inside alternative technology and solutions for the energy crisis in America and abroad finds solutions around the world that show promise and hope for a new tomorrow in which a home of any size can be built that not only lowers overall energy consumption, but actually finds ways to create excess power. Zero Energy America shows the way to get there, demonstrate the solutions by visiting real world working examples and addresses the problems head on. The zero energy home is attainable today… and this documentary proves that a Zero Energy America can be our tomorrow.

We’ve Got The Power — April 21 at 9 pm
The follow-up documentary to the Emmy® Award-winning program The Next Frontier: Engineering the Golden Age of Green, We’ve Got the Power shows viewers how the United States can replace fossil fuels with clean energy in a way that is economically beneficial to consumers and businesses alike, and ensures a safer environment for future generations. By driving electric vehicles, installing solar on our roofs, or doing something as simple as getting a home energy audit, we all have the power to improve energy efficiency, save money, and phase out fossil fuels. We’ve Got the Power also looks at the importance of the role of government in different stages of clean energy production including research, regulations, policy making, and protecting the public and the environment from disasters like the BP Gulf Oil Spill.

Champion Trees — April 22 at 8 pm
Escaping the ravages of nature and man, the champion trees are the largest of their species in any state. With lives spanning hundreds of years, these silent sentinels have watched history unfold around them. Champion Trees is a one-hour AETN original documentary that explores these natural wonders and how they influence and inspire the people around them.

Ocean Frontiers: Dawn Of A New Era in Ocean Stewardship — April 22 at 9 pm
How can the United States meet its ever-expanding demands on the ocean without destroying it? To answer this question, Ocean Frontiers introduces the unlikely allies joining forces to improve conditions in the waters off America’s coasts. This documentary travels to four seaports and watersheds to observe new, long-term approaches to ocean management — from the busy shipping lanes of Boston Harbor to a small fishing community in the Pacific Northwest; from coral reefs in the Florida Keys to the nation’s premier seafood nursery in the Mississippi Delta. Along the way, Ocean Frontiers captures inspiring stories of scientists, businesses, farmers, sport and commercial fishermen, governments and citizens coming together to save the seas that sustain them.

So Right So Smart — April 22 at 10 pm
This program profiles companies on the cutting edge of more sustainable business practices who are proving that being environmentally friendly is both good for the earth and good for business. Their inspiring stories of leadership and innovative change provide hopeful models for the larger business community and other institutions. The primary focus of the film is a behind-the-scenes look at the transformation of Interface Inc., a global carpet manufacturer led by Ray Anderson, one of the early pioneers of green business practices. Anderson has spearheaded an often-challenging effort to transform Interface to a “restorative enterprise”; and has become an inspiration to other businesses. So Right So Smart also includes short profiles of companies who started with a commitment to green business practices, including Stonyfield Farms, Patagonia, Herman Miller, Seventh Generation and New Belgium Brewery.

Join KLRU and KLRU Q in celebrating our planet with environmental related programs honoring Earth Day! PBS also offers even more programs online only on pbs.org

Ocean Frontiers: The Dawn Of A New Era In Ocean Stewardship
Tuesday, April 8 at 10 pm on KLRU
How can the United States meet its ever-expanding demands on the ocean without destroying it? To answer this question, OCEAN FRONTIERS introduces the unlikely allies joining forces to improve conditions in the waters off America’s coasts. OCEAN
FRONTIERS: THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN OCEAN STEWARDSHIP travels to four seaports and watersheds to observe new, long-term approaches to ocean management- from the busy shipping lanes of Boston Harbor to a small fishing community in the Pacific Northwest; from coral reefs in the Florida Keys to the nation’s premier seafood nursery in the Mississippi Delta. Along the way, OCEAN FRONTIERS captures inspiring stories of scientists, businesses, farmers, sport and commercial fishermen, governments and citizens coming together to save the seas that sustain them.

Rebels With A Cause
Tuesday April 15 at 9:30 pm on KLRU
Narrated by
Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand, REBELS WITH A CAUSE spotlights a small group of people who banded together to protect and preserve open spaces near urban areas for parks and farms from rampant development. In doing so, they brought about America’s system of national seashores and recreation areas. The film begins in the 1950s and tells the tale of this disparate band of activists who, despite reversals, diversions, and disappointments, persisted in their mission for 20 years. Their cause crosses party lines, unifies seemingly antagonistic foes, falters and is nearly extinguished many times along the way, but is ultimately victorious. REBELS WITH A CAUSE documents a fascinating example of a hard-fought campaign to preserve something important to all Americans – our public lands.

American Masters: A Fierce Green Fire
Tuesday, April 22 at 8 pm on KLRU
This film is an exploration of the environmental movement — grassroots and global activism spanning 50 years from conservation to climate change. Inspired by the book of the same name by Philip Shabecoff and informed by advisors like Edward O. Wilson, A FIERCE GREEN FIRE chronicles the largest movement of the 20th century and one of the keys to the 21st. It brings together all the major parts of environmentalism and connects them. It focuses on activism, people fighting to save their homes, their lives, the future — and succeeding against all odds. The film is directed and written by Mark Kitchell, Academy Award-nominated director of Berkeley in the Sixties,and narrated by Robert Redford, Ashley Judd, Van Jones, Isabel Allende and Meryl Streep.

Water Blues Green Solutions
Tuesday, April 22 at 10 pm on KLRU
An Interactive Documentary Project telling stories of communities creating green solutions for our water blues-flooding, pollution, and scarcity. Floods. Drought. Overloaded sewers. Acres of pavement. Pollution. We’re in a water crisis. Meet the innovators who are teaching America to “soak it up.” America’s deteriorating water infrastructure demands repair and expansion. Some communities are testing new solutions. Water Blues Green Solutions tells the stories of visionary leaders in four cities-Philadelphia, New York, San Antonio, and Portland-who borrow strategies from nature to clean and protect water.

On KLRU-Q:Ecosense for LivingTake Back the FarmSaturday, April 5 at 6 pm on KLRU Q
There’s a “growing” awareness in the U.S. about our food…where it comes from, how it’s grown, and what exactly it takes to feed all of us nutritious, earth-conscious meals. In this episode, we explore farmers of all types in all kinds of situations. From Ron Finley, a renegade gardener in south central Los Angeles to south Georgia farmer, Will Harris, we’ll meet people who are changing the way we think about and consume food. Lawn and garden expert Paul Tukey gives us some surprising revelations about how we moved from growing our own food to our fascination with perfect lawns. We’ll get the story from a suburban man who became a local outlaw for “growing too many vegetables.” We wrap with a quick trip to Chipotle, a national chain that’s taking a local approach to their food supply.

Ecosense for LivingFood Fight
Saturday, April 5 at 6:30 pm on KLRU Q
The quality and accessibility of food has been a hot button issue throughout the ages. Lack of secure food has been the source of revolutions and toppled governments. In “Food Fight,” we look at the tug of war over America’s diet. From questions plaguing genetically-modified ingredients to wheat-free/gluten-free concerns to the rapid decline of bees, we explore pressures on the safety and security of our food supply. Rich Food, Poor Food authors, Jayson and Mira Calton, guide us through a grocery store and reveal how to make smart choices and avoid unwanted ingredients. Cardiologist Dr. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly, tells us his surprising results after removing wheat from his patients’ diets. Filmmaker and concerned father Jeremy Siefert tells his journey trying to understand the impact of genetically-modified food on his children’s health. Bee experts sound the alarm about the decline of our most valuable pollinators and what we can do to make sure they continue supplying us with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time
Sunday, April 6 at 6 pm on KLRU Q
From the filmmakers of the beloved THE GREATEST GOOD comes the 2012 Emmy-Award winner Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time, the first high definition documentary made about the famed father of conservationism, Aldo Leopold. Emmy-Award winning narrator Peter Coyote lends his talent as the voice of Aldo Leopold, and the film’s on-screen guide is Curt Meine, Leopold’s biographer. The film explores Aldo Leopold’s life in the early part of the twentieth century and the many ways his land ethic idea continues to be applied all over the world today. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, premiere screenings in select cities will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Weeks Act, the law that lead to the creation of many of our eastern national forests, and sparked the long-term effort to replant and restore forests that still continues today.

Saving the BayMarvel Of Nature (Prehistory-1848)
Sunday, April 6 at 7 pm on KLRU Q
In the first episode, photo-realistic animation illustrates the formation of the Bay following the last Ice Age. This hour introduces the first inhabitants along the Bay’s shores, including Native Peoples along with flora and fauna, and continues through European exploration and settlement, including Spanish, Russian and ultimately, American influences that dramatically altered the region.

Saving the BayHarbor of Harbors (1849-1906)
Sunday, April 6 at 8 pm on KLRU Q
The second hour follows San Francisco’s “rapid monstrous maturity” into a major metropolis following the California Gold Rush (1849-1906) . Establishing the infrastructure to support the instant city meant radical change for San Francisco Bay. By the century’s end, San Francisco Bay was the center of a broad economic empire on the Pacific.

Return of the Wolves: The Next Chapter
Friday, April 11 at 9 pm on KLRU Q
Narrated by Peter Coyote, this program follows the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone and Idaho, and explores why the wolf remains a controversial animal.

Ocean Frontiers: The Dawn of a New Era In Ocean Stewardship
Friday April 12 at 6 pm on KLRU Q
How can the United States meet its ever-expanding demands on the ocean without destroying it? To answer this question, OCEAN FRONTIERS introduces the unlikely allies joining forces to improve conditions in the waters off America’s coasts. OCEAN FRONTIERS: THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN OCEAN STEWARDSHIP travels to four seaports and watersheds to observe new, long-term approaches to ocean management- from the busy shipping lanes of Boston Harbor to a small fishing community in the Pacific Northwest; from coral reefs in the Florida Keys to the nation’s premier seafood nursery in the Mississippi Delta. Along the way, OCEAN FRONTIERS captures inspiring stories of scientists, businesses, farmers, sport and commercial fishermen, governments and citizens coming together to save the seas that sustain them.

Rebels with a Cause
Sunday, April 13 at 6 pm on KLRU Q
Narrated by Oscar-winning actress Frances McDormand, REBELS WITH A CAUSE spotlights a group of dedicated conservationists who fought to preserve open space, protect agriculture and wildlife, and establish public parks near San Francisco. Beginning in the 1950s, ordinary citizens from all walks of life, concerned by the intentions of residential land developers and the environmental cost of “progress,” began banding together to save a vast stretch of Northern California coastline. Their passionate activism at both the local and federal level helped create Point Reyes National Seashore and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. These precedent-setting efforts also raised Californians’ awareness of their power to promote change, fostered a national movement to preserve open spaces, and shaped the environmental movement of today.

Saving the BayMiracle Workers (1906 – 1956)
Sunday, April 13 at 7 pm on KLRU Q
The third hour begins with the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906, the rise of California’s water re-distribution projects and the Bay’s transformation into the world’s greatest shipbuilding center by the close of World War II.

Saving the BayBay in the Balance (1906 – Present)
Sunday, April 13 at 8 pm on KLRU Q
In the final episode, the very survival of the Bay is threatened by the postwar boom and the issue becomes how best to balance the competing demands of a major urban center set amidst an environmentally significant landscape.

Lords of Nature: Life in a Land of Great Predators
Friday, April 18 at 9 pm on KLRU Q
Birds, butterflies, beaver and antelope, wildflowers and frogs – could their survival possibly be connected to top predators like the wolf and cougar? Narrated by Peter Coyote, this documentary goes behind the scenes with leading scientists to explore the role top predators play in restoring and maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity. Wolves and cougars, once driven to the edge of existence, are finding their way back — from the Yellowstone plateau to the canyons of Zion, from the farm country of northern Minnesota to the rugged open range of the West. LORDS OF NATURE: Life in a Land of Great Predators tells the story of science now discovering the great carnivores as revitalizing forces of nature, and a society now learning tolerance for the beasts they had once banished.

Water Pressures
Saturday, April 19 at 6 pm on KLRU Q
Water is a central element of life, yet one in eight people worldwide – 1.2 billion – lack access to safe drinking water. In the coming years, the water scarcity in some drought-stricken regions will turn into a global crisis. Hosted by actor-producer Adrian Grenier (HBO’s Entourage), WATER PRESSURES sheds light on this critical, complex issue by documenting the partnership between villagers in water-distressed Rajasthan, India and students and faculty at Northwestern University, situated on the shores of Lake Michigan. Students in a Northwestern environmental policy class see a model of conservation and community cooperation firsthand on a 10-day trip to India, where a leading nonprofit organizations illustrates the power of pairing traditional wisdom with simple teamwork to solve the water crisis in the Thar Desert. They also meet with political leaders, corporate executives and water experts to create their own local partnerships and try to make a difference in their own communities.

Katmai: Alaska’s Wild Peninsula
Friday, April 25 at 9 pm on KLRU Q
Filmmaker John Grabowska reveals the wilderness of the Alaska Peninsula, a cloud-cloaked landscape where bears outnumber people and the sockeye salmon run is the largest in the world.

Sky Island
Friday, April 25 at 9:30 pm on KLRU Q
In Northern New Mexico a range of mountains rises up from the high desert, a wild, rugged land of the Faraway Nearby. The volcanic Jemez Mountains are isolated from all other ranges — an island in the sky, surrounded by a desert sea. In “Sky Island,” filmmaker John Grabowska profiles this enchanting landscape and our place within it, with climate change effects already dramatically altering the desert and alpine ecosystems. The film features narration by Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday and actress Meryl Streep.

Water Blues Green Solution
Saturday, April 26 at 6 pm on KLRU Q
An Interactive Documentary Project telling stories of communities creating green solutions for our water blues-flooding, pollution, and scarcity. Floods. Drought. Overloaded sewers. Acres of pavement. Pollution. We’re in a water crisis. Meet the innovators who are teaching America to “soak it up.” America’s deteriorating water infrastructure demands repair and expansion. Some communities are testing new solutions. Water Blues Green Solutions tells the stories of visionary leaders in four cities-Philadelphia, New York, San Antonio, and Portland-who borrow strategies from nature to clean and protect water.

Turning The Tide
Sunday, April 27 at 6 pm on KLRU Q
Louisiana’s coastal marshes and wetlands cover 9,000 square miles, stretching 300 miles from east to west, and reaching 30 miles inland. Each year, hurricanes and other natural and manmade forces claim between 20 to 25 square miles of vulnerable coastline. Many believe these numbers constitute a national emergency, one which requires immediate scientific and public consensus to “turn the tide” on the problem. In the balance lay crucial ecosystems, Gulf seafood and fisheries, North American migratory bird and waterfowl populations, the nation’s energy infrastructure and national security, interior navigation and water transport for American produce and goods, and a unique American culture. The powerful documentary TURNING THE TIDE examines of viable strategies and innovative engineering techniques to help address Louisiana’s coastal erosion crisis. The world’s foremost authorities on the subject demystify the complex challenges facing Louisiana’s coast and reveal new (and sometimes unconventional) discoveries with the potential to change the course of the coast’s future.

California ForeverParks for the Future
Sunday, April 27 at 8 pm on KLRU Q
This program places the future of the parks within the context of trends that will soon threaten parks everywhere. Population growth, decline of native plants and animals, loss of open space and climate change all pose serious challenges to the integrity of parks, now and in the future.

KLRU has Earth Day programming for both children and adults on Monday, April 22.

Curious George Swings Into SpringMonday, April 22, 8:00 AM and 2 PM
It’s springtime! And a little monkey has a big case of spring fever. But serious lobby dogs like Hundley have no time for frolicking, especially when there’s a spring cleaning prize to be won. Hundley’s dreams are dashed when a burst pipe forces him to evacuate the building and join George in the country. Seeing such a down dog, George gets the idea to give his friend spring fever, but instead Hundley gets lost. Will George be able to rescue Hundley and lift his spirits?

Independent Lens“The Island President”Monday, April 22 at 9 pm President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives is a man with a bigger problem than any other world leader has ever faced — the literal survival of his country and everyone in it. After bringing democracy to the Maldives, he must now ensure that his tiny country doesn’t disappear under rising sea levels. That means capturing the attention of global superpowers, forging alliances, persuading the skeptical, and learning the ropes of international political horse-trading. Despite the size of his country and his political challenges at home, Mohamed Nasheed has become one of the leading international voices for urgent action on climate change.

Sky Island Monday, April 22 at 10:30 pmIn Northern New Mexico a range of moutains rises up from the high desert, a wild, rugged land of the Faraway Nearby. The volcanic Jemez Mountains are isolated from all other ranges — an island in the sky, surrounded by a desert sea. In “Sky Island,” filmmaker John Grabowska profiles this enchanting landscape and our place within it, with climate change effects already dramatically altering the desert and alpine ecosystems. The film features narration by Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday and actress Meryl Streep.

Redwood National Park: Preserving Ancient Forests at 2 pm
Redwood National Park is home to the tallest living things on earth – coast redwoods. Redwood National Park preserved nearly half the Earth’s remaining old growth redwoods (in the general age range of 700 to 2,000 years old.) Although ninety percent of California’s old growth redwoods had been harvested, the establishment of Redwood National Park in 1968, and the expansion in 1978 were controversial events in our local history. The program features interviews with local citizens who campaigned to save the redwoods.

Leading up to Earth Day, KLRU will present four weeks of “Explore the Outdoors” themed programming from popular series including WILD KRATTS, DINOSAUR TRAIN, THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!, and CURIOUS GEORGE. Premieres include new episodes from WILD KRATTS, THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!, CURIOUS GEORGE and a new Earth Day themed episode of ARTHUR, airing Monday, April 16. On Friday, April 20 (the Friday before Earth Day), KLRU will also present a special line-up of environmentally-themed programs to gear kids up to celebrate Earth Day. Themed weeks include:

WILD KRATTS “Backyard Adventures Week”
March 26-30 at 4 p.m.

This special week features five episodes all about venturing outside to explore the wonders that are as close as your own backyard. The week concludes with the premiere of a new episode, “Flight of the Pollinators,” on Friday, March 30, which explores the amazing delivery system of plants and their animal partners.

DINOSAUR TRAIN “Nature Trackers Week”
April 2-6 at 9:30 a.m.

This encore presentation of four “Nature Trackers” episodes of DINOSAUR TRAIN includes “Stargazing on the Night Train/Get Into Nature!,” “Shiny and Snakes/Tiny Flowers,” “Buddy Explores the Tyrannosaurs/Rainy Day Fight” and “That’s Not a Dinosaur/Tiny’s Garden.” The storylines follow Buddy, Shiny, Tiny and Don as they make their own discoveries in nature.

The episodes encourage kids to get outside, get into nature and make their own discoveries.

THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! “Nature’s Know-How Week”
April 9-13 at 8:30 a.m.

The Cat, Nick and Sally go on a variety of outdoor adventures this week, including journeys to Drippety Dry Desert and Splishy Splashy Pond. Two new episodes premiere: “Super Cleaner Uppers/Itty Bitty Water” on Monday, April 9, and “Amazing Eyes/Water Walkers” on Thursday, April 12.

ARTHUR “Prunella the Pack Rat/What’s in a Name?”
April 16 at 3 p.m. (repeating April 20 at 3 p.m.)

Prunella the Packrat – Prunella saves everything – ticket stubs, quizzes from second grade, pencil stubs, broken shoe laces…you name it and it’s in her closet! Can Arthur help her break her packrat habits in time to put together the display for the school’s Earth Day fair? Or is Prunella doomed to drown in her clutter? What’s in a Name? – Binky find out that his real name isn’t Binky, it’s… Shelley?!! He’s certain he will have to leave town – or at least school – having this silly name. Until his mom tells him the story of his ancestor, Shelley Barnes, the greatest circus owner of his time…

CURIOUS GEORGE “Explore Your World Week”
April 16-20 at 8 a.m.

During this special week, everyone’s favorite monkey dabbles in a range of activities – from radio DJ-ing, to painting, to building a home for a squirrel. The week includes three premiere episodes – “DJ George/Curious George Paints the Desert” on Monday, April 16, “No Knowing Gnocchi/Here Comes the Tide” on Wednesday, April 18, and “Junky Monkey/Jumpy Warms Up” on Friday, April 20.

Online and Mobile Resources for Families

KLRU and PBS KIDS are increasingly serving children wherever they live, learn, and play – online, on mobile devices, on TV, and in the classroom. Kids can continue their environmental exploration online at PBSKIDS.org/outdoors to find environmental and outdoor themed games, activities and videos and on mobile through the PBS KIDS Video App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

PBS Parents will provide resources for parents to explore the outdoors with their own families on PBSParents.org/outdoors. The site will provide activities from the on-air episodes, listings for PBS KIDS”Day in the Park” events, and ideas and resources that Central Texas families can use to explore the outdoors any time.

PBS KIDS will host its sixth annual PBS KIDS “Share the Earth” celebration in honor of Earth Day by featuring new and favorite episodes encouraging children to care for and respect the environment. From April 18 – 22, families can view brand new eco-friendly episodes on-air from SID THE SCIENCE KID, CURIOUS GEORGE, MARTHA SPEAKS, WILD KRATTS, and ARTHUR, while learning about recycling, habitats, alternative energy and more. In addition, favorite Earth-focused episodes from SUPER WHY!, WORDGIRL, and more will also be airing throughout the week.

Following is a listing of the episodes airing the week of April 18 -22:

SID THE SCIENCE KIDNew Episode:“Where Did The Water Go?” (“What happens to water that goes down the drain?”)
New Episode:“Clean Air!”(“Why does Sid’s Dad wear a mask when he paints?”)New Episode:“Reused Robot” (“Where does trash go when we throw it away?”)
New Episode: “Save The Stump”(“Can an old stump be a home for tiny creatures?”)